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After a collapse in form since returning from the international break, City suddenly found their drive again to turn in an impressive all round performance away at the notoriously difficult Hawthorns. Though West Brom has been below par this campaign, it needed a complete performance to frustrate plans of a resurgence and Pearson's side delivered it, surprisingly dominating the first half and creating by far the best chances to roar in front, then defending like lives depended on it second half, closing every single door and giving away fans everything to sing about.

Joe Williams, a non stop bundle of energy in best ever City form, bundled in the deserved first from Jay DaSilva's low centre, and then  before half time two, as constant nuisance Antoine Semenyo ran onto a left wing break and found room to whip in a vicious cross at the top corner, Nahki Wells glancing in front of the keeper to steer in. Fresh from the win Saturday, West Brom poured foward in the second half but tireless City matched every step - closing down passing lanes, clearing crosses and so frustrating the Baggies they were reduced to appealing for everything.

It was the away side who rallied right from the start. In seconds Alex Scott threaded Semenyo down the right channel in the first attack of the game, storming into the box to force a corner. A minute later a direct ball from keeper Max O'Leary put Wells clean through but with just the keeper to beat he miscued under pressure from the defender. West Brom barely settled but contrived their first chances after five minutes which were easily blocked given City's compact shape without the ball, offering the hosts little sight of goal and comfortable intercepting play.

Dasilva's awful miscontrol out of play on the left touchline with teammates upfield looked to be more of the same out of form football from the wing back and offered little clue of the impending impact he'd have. Conversely Mark Sykes did very well to go clear down the right and should have forced a corner - while at the midway point of the half man of the match Zak Vyner, taking on long passes his colleagues shyed away from, dropped a shoulder and beat a marauding fullback to lift into midfield where Scott won a free kick while breaking decisively down the middle.

City had easily shaded the exchanges and had the better of the midfield - a rarity up at the Hawthorns - and after half an hour they edged in front. The visitors somehow kept a break ticking over in midfield long enough to pick out Wells sprinting clear down the right channel and although his deep cross was over everyone, Dasilva had time to recover on the left and return it low and hard to the six yard box where Williams turned in. Away fans packed into the far corner had already dominated the noise and now they would be in full control, roaring their endless approval.

Inside five minutes left in the half and easily West Brom's best move of the fixture was worked well down their left (the City right) - an overlap got them to the byline and into the box to cut back for the onrushing Matt Phillips who seemed certain to score only to hammer miles over. And before the break it was two for City. Dasilva kept a move going on the left and allowed Semenyo to drop a shoulder and make room for a vicious cross out on the left touchline that lasered into the far top corner, Wells glancing header made sure and had the away end in pandemonium. 

Inevitably City would now need to weather a storm in the second half and did so with so much conviction the hosts pleaded with the referee for any decision that may give them a chance. Rob Atkinson cleared behind after the Baggies carved a path right through the middle and home fans waved furiously for a handball - instead a first burst of corners all dealt with. At the other end Wells did a fine job screening the ball so that Semenyo had time to send Dasilva cutting inside into the box but with Wells overlapping into the six yard box Dasilva overhit yet another pass.

It was mainly all West Brom - and yet more corners to deal with - as well as a relatively sparse home crowd continuing to appeal in vein, frustrated at how easily City won every ball or blocked every cross. Past the hour mark and the visitors could not have been more professional, Timm Klose and Sykes among the players winning and retrieving possession at every time of asking - then on the break it should have been 3. Vyner cut the ball out brilliantly with a last gasp sliding tackle and City fed Wells down the right who slipped Semenyo into the box to drill just over. 

At the midway point of the second period Dasilva had to clear off the line after Conor Townsend broke down the left and crossed into the middle for Brandon Thomas-Asante to flick his header goalwards toward the far corner, O'Leary pushing onto the woodwork. By now City were clinging on, but roared on by a one-sided and boisterous away end it spurred the visiting players - who continued to head everything clear and race to close down and block passing and shooting lanes into the box. Away fans were in full voice as Weimann and Martin entered as reinforcements. 

By now it was clear to most fans that it was a game City had full control of and were not about to surrender. Visiting defenders were on top form winning first balls, crowding the attackers into dead ends or simply ushering opponents into difficult positions to concede goal kicks, much to the hosts frustration. In the 86th another series of corners saw Dara O'Shea well teed up in the box only to blast miles over and send home fans heading for the exit. Tomas Kalas and Tommy Conway entered for the brilliant Wells and Sykes and in truth this was enough for City to settle in.

With away fans a wall of noise as Baggies fans slunk to the exits, the visitors enjoyed a crazy several minutes of injury time as right in front of their massed ranks, Dasilva, Scott and Martin showed amazing awareness and close control to win an endless succession of throw ins and free kicks by the corner flag  - demoralising already beaten hosts. Before full time, with City bundling away absolutely everything thrown their way, West Brom produced their best chance, Jed Wallace finally given a yard of space edge of the box to send a dipping shot onto the woodwork.

But with City supporters to a man bellowing their support, this was a result and display which belonged to only one team. Pearson's men have been short of their best since the international break and at times their will to win has been questioned. But out of the blue this is arguably among their most complete performances of the season - at Blackburn they were at their most fluent attacking best but facing a more direct side tonight it was a more rounded display that owed as much to organisation and determination to deny chances endlessly around their own box.

O'Leary 8

Vyner 9

Klose 8

Atkinson 7

Sykes 9

Dasilva 7

James 8

Williams 8

Scott 8

Semenyo 9

Wells 8

Weimann 6

Martin 7

King 6

Conway 6

Kalas 6 

It's not often you head into the international break after two defeats and still feel positive - but City's second successive loss in four days against ex Premier League opposition had enough ingredients to keep away fans in upbeat mood: Burnley by far the best side so far faced, Nigel Pearson's men always in the game right to the end, offering plenty of threat until fading badly second half against relentless Clarets passing and possession.

The hosts new signing Manuel Benson tore into City from the start with his energy and pace, claiming an early opener before the visitors had even settled - but they grew into the fixture by pressing their opponents high and increasingly creating chances - leading to Nahki Wells equalizing from a right wing corner against his old side. But a long week of travel took its toll as City ran out of steam and Jay Rodriguez got a well worked winner.

In 3 minutes Benson danced clear down the right to flash the ball across goal which was close to being converted far post. A minute later and Burnley carved a path through the middle with space opening up, Ian Maatsen nodding into the path of Benson who drove a low shot into the far bottom corner for an early lead. It would have been easy for City to crumble but to their credit they continued to play football according to their gameplan.

Chasing and pressing the hosts at the other end led to Jay DaSilva recycling an attack in to Matty James in the middle whose chance to volley was curtailed by being upended by an opponent - incredibly no foul given - and Burnley broke downfield, Zak Vyner robbing the ball in the box but the Clarets recovering quickly to tee up ex-City star Josh Brownhill whose laser guided finish into the top corner was desperately blocked by Kal Naismith.

As on Wednesday at Norwich, City took the game to their fancied opponents, looking for routes to open them up, but midway through the half it was slick Burnley that again sliced through the middle, then going wing to wing as Benson and Maatsen combined to probe before Rodriguez squared into the six yard box for unmarked Nathan Tella to somehow put wide at close range. Like midweek the visitors swung from threat to vulnerable. 

Yet minutes later this irrepressible City side had found their equaliser - Wells did well to win a corner out on the right which Naismith dropped perfectly into the six yard box and quick thinking Tommy Conway slipped into the path of the Bermudan from just a yard out, who applied the easy finish. In a season where Pearson's men continue to delight, it was another highlight for the traveling fans. 

Now the away side were giving as good as they got. With 10 left Benson recycled play and Brownhill teed up Maatsen to lift toward the top corner but Daniel Bentley saved. At the other end Rob Atkinson stole the ball on the halfway line and broke with a storming charge into the box to force a corner. Next a throw in saw Wells near post backward nod nearly creep in the far corner, then Burnley broke but Mark Sykes recovered brilliantly.

And amazingly, City could have been ahead at the break - Andi Weimann, who had been leading their press, strode out of midfield to lob a smart up and over which allowed Wells in behind the backline to skew a ball into the six yard box where the on-running Austrian was painfully close to bundling in. With star man Alex Scott on a distinctly orange yellow card after clattering Jack Cork, Pearson put both Williams and on during the interval.

With City tiring but Burnley also susceptible to pace at the back, it looked like two clever switches - instead the visitors disappeared second half with neither substitute effective and also missing Scott's midfield enterprise. Though it was the away side who fashioned the first chance after the restart - robbing a ball on the right for Sykes to send in a deep early cross which Wells looped just under the bar with a header Ari Muric tipped over.

And that was it for City as Burnley executed patient possession football, probing side to side for an opening whilst the tiring visitors repeatedly failed to clear their lines or keep hold of the ball. Sub Gudmundsson already forced Bentley to save low to his right when given time in the box and for ten minutes we defended gamefully until midway through the half he centered and Rodriguez stole a yard to steer a header into the bottom corner. 

Pearson's jaded men had limited response. A dangerous right wing Naismith corner was half cleared to Williams whose driven volley was clawed away by Muric. Han Massengo entered for James and was quickly involved in City's best move of the fixture as Sykes combined with Wells through quick touches before the latter got into the box and laid a perfectly weighted ball back to Semenyo who with time and space fired wildly over. 

Chris Martin replaced Atkinson as Pearson went for broke. Rodriguez volleyed well wide after more good work by star man Brownhill, while Jay DaSilva intercepted in his own half and sent Wells on a lung bursting run down the left to cross with Burnley players out of position, but when it fell to Semenyo his shot was well blocked. Next lethargic Massengo got caught in possession on halfway - sub Anass Zaroury forcing Bentley to tip wide.

The mark of City's progress is they were still in with a shout against the best team they'd played and despite being visibly exhausted - and in injury time they could have levelled, Weimann sent clear down the right channel and his cross evaded defenders and needed a desperate touch to stop Semenyo turn in. And still shattered City came. Give and go's around the box deep in injury time, only for Wells to fire wildly over from Williams pass.

In the end a fair result on the balance of play, in particular the one sided second half - yet it didn't deter the large away following from applauding their purposeful, hard working team; no shame in seeing their run of form curtailed against two promotion favourites, and City gave a good account in one and a half of the two contests, demonstrating their credentials. Perhaps why Pearson engaged in a rare salute in front of the away fans.

Bentley 7

Naismith 7

Atkinson 7

Vyner 7

Sykes 8

DaSilva 6

James 6

Scott 7

Weimann 6

Wells 8

Conway 6

Semenyo 5

Williams 6

Massengo 4

Martin 5

The cliche says that you learn more about a team in defeat than in victory and that was in evidence at Carrow Road - as City utterly dominated the ex Premier League promotion favourite hosts for a full 90 minutes. Behind only to two scandalous defensive mistakes but committed to constant attack, rattling Norwich and their silenced fans with waves of attack that proved Pearson's side is well placed to mix it with the best in the division.

Kal Naismith made two of his characteristic unforced errors at the back for Norwich first two goals, gifting Teemu Pukki two painfully easy strikes - albeit the first from a suspect Todd Cantwell foul award and the second not aided by Zak Vyner suspect positioning - but City kept at it, breaking the lines, with Tommy Conway capping a lengthy spell of pressure - and it was all the visitors second half despite conceding an unexpected third. 

It looked a very different game first minute as Alex Scott gave it away for Josh Sargent to break down the right but he was closed down quickly as City eradicated any danger - while at the other end Conway seized on a loose ball edge of the box, only to then drag a shot wide. By the 7th minute it was all the away side yet a Scott foul on Cantwell setup  a free kick and rare break which got Pukki in space but he was very well closed down. 

Perhaps it was a warning as minutes later Cantwell drew the softest of fouls in his own half as Vyner jockied and nicked the ball off the midfielder, and from the deep free kick Naismith got caught under the ball facing his own goal and Pukki was easily in behind to steer a header past the helpless Daniel Bentley. City continued to attack and Mark Sykes controlled a deflection, raced into the box and was bundled over but no penalty. 

It became apparent that like City's last time away at a Dean Smith parachute payments team (Villa) we had to deal with a parachute ref as well - and sure enough in 20 minutes Conway was jockied identically to Cantwell with nothing given but we recovered and yet again picked our way through their lines and Scott was fouled just outside the area and again nothing was given. For all our football we were not having the rub of the green. 

Then at the midway point of the half things got worse as Naismith miscued a clearance straight to Aaron Ramsey - albeit Zak Vyner was out of position - and Ramsey returned it to a wide open Pukki to finish with ease, he won't score two easier goals in his career. Incredibly despite being 2-0 down this had been the extent of the Norwich threat while City went on to solidify control in possession by dominating the entire rest of the half.

Our best chance arrived on 27 as Sykes was swept clear down the right with City players all taking up positions in the box - it was cut back to Wells dropping deep just inside the area but with time to pick out the top corner his shot was low at the keeper, deflected to DaSilva out left and with players queueing up for the second attempt, as he has often this season, his shot was poorly executed, a low direct shot Tim Krul easily beat away.

City only grew and grew. On 36 they quickly recycled a free kick to get Nahki Wells to the byline but Conway couldn't head in a looped ball in front of goal at close range, Cantwell desperately hooking clear. On 39 they broke from superb control by Andi Weimann to put Wells in again, spread to Sykes who blasted his cross miles over with players in the box. Next Weimann won and took a quick corner that Naismith curled straight to the keeper.

By now with just minutes remaining it was all one way traffic and Rob Atkinson went on a driving run into the box before laying off for Wells who lifted a deft cross into the middle which Conway buried from inches out past the keeper and right in front of the corner of 350 City away fans. It was utterly deserved for a one sided first half and the away team finished the 45 on the front foot seemingly with hosts Norwich rattled and fans silent.

From the restart it was more of the same. A probing DaSilva laid it off for Scott to get to the line and cross for Wells to steer into the keepers hands. Minutes later Atkinson was on hand to step in and perfectly rob a hosts attack and cue up a well worked move with Naismith edge of box in the right channel able to angle a diagonal to pick out Scott's run to the opposite byline - from where his cross near post was claimed by the keeper.

Passing the hour mark it was a desperately one sided game in which Norwich rarely got into the City half - yet on 63 another patient build from the confident visitors saw Sykes inside to Matty James whose square ball to no one in particular was easy for Norwich to rob and break upfield at speed. Pearson's men were able to block Pukki's chance but from the resulting corner Sargent was left unmarked to head in against the run of play.

City could not hide the gut punch of having a third goal conceded in a match they had been in total control of and though Antoine Semenyo joined (arguably too late) in place of Sykes and into a 4-3-3, inside the last 20 the game was wide open and Bentley had to rush out and make an absolutely stunning block to stop a wide open Pukki claiming his hat trick. Joe Williams replaced Conway and in minutes he was involved in our second.

Max Aarons was robbed out on City's left in an untidy clash of players and with Norwich appealing the ball was fed to Williams who appeared to be crudely clattered in the box but with the penalty inevitable Semenyo got a foot to the rebound and quickly hooked it inside the far post. A chaotic goal in chaotic circumstances and yet little more than City deserved and hardly as if the visitors were beneficiaries of much support from the ref. 

Now it was game on and a rattled Norwich crowd looked terrified as City's players still continued to pour foward with a boundless energy. In the final ten Atkinson again went on a run and laid off for DaSilva who lifted in for Semenyo's near post back header to be clawed away. At the other end from a rare break Norwich worked Daniel Sinani clear on goal but again Bentley blocked heroically - the visitors fighting for a chance to level.

Chris Martin joined at the death for Atkinson but in truth City's final ball deserted them in six minutes of injury time. City continued to pile forward but Williams was guilty of loose exchanges, one horrible crossfield pass with the team upfield allowing a Norwich break but Sinani fired well over setup on the edge of the box. The away side didn't relent right to the end - winning a corner and seeing a last gasp shot by Semenyo bundled away.

The large home crowd celebrated the final whistle more in relief than pride having been comprehensively outplayed by a legitimate play off hopeful in Bristol City. Ultimately let down by two horrible moments of unforced defensive calamity by Naismith early on but otherwise a side that dominated possession and made all the running to create chances  against a former Premier League side. Even in defeat Pearson can be proud of his team. 

Bentley 8 Let down by defending but kept us in the game from multiple one on ones

Vyner 7 Tidy with ball but argument was at fault for second

Atkinson 8 Makes such a difference when he brings the ball out, so much belief and gives us the extra man

Naismith 6 A vital player in many attacking and set piece phases but a liability at other times - a risk reward player  

Sykes 7 Too hesitant early on when clearly had the bearing of his man if he wanted it, became more dangerous but didn't always pick the pass

DaSilva 7 Such an important player for us, sees a lot of the ball, holds onto it amazingly well, but question on some of his crosses or finishing

James 7 Looked at his best fitness wise and kept us ticking over

Scott 8 Easily best player on the pitch and this was an average game for him. A long way better than Cantwell

Weimann 6 Played especially deep and poor game by his exceptionally high standards, often didn't link with teammates and 

Wells 7 Ran the lines tirelessly, rarely put a foot wrong but should have done better with first half setup from Sykes

Conway 7 Great goal and every inch the nuisance in both the press and balls into the box

Semenyo 7 Not always neat with his touches but a constant threat when he got on the ball, thought he might nick it

Williams 5 Several spectacularly loose or unprepared passes or touches, should have capitalised better on our momentum

Martin 5 Not really involved

For what it's worth and for my memory uniquely this season, he spent most of the second half crouched on one knee at the edge of the technical area studying the game intently as per Bielsa - and out front and centre for City.

I know Charlton fans near me who say he is an outstanding coach and developer of players and I'd like to think he is part of the transformation as he seems quiet, unassuming and determined so exactly the sort of character we need.

In my life I've seen Smith, Osman, Jordan, Ward, Lennartson, Johnson (G), Millen, Coppell, Millen (again), McInnes, O'Driscoll, Cotterill, Johnson (L), and Holden teams all play in the second tier and Nigel Pearson's side eclipsed all of them today for quality of football and dominance at this level. The side he has fashioned is gelling brilliantly.

Under Johnson (L) City enjoyed many fine away days - arguably the highlights of his tenure - but never as slick and convincing as the way Pearson's in form side destroyed early pacesetters Blackburn from the off in a one sided assault at Ewood Park - Scott, Weimann and Wells unplayable despite the scoreline eventually having a balanced look.

Two stunning counter attacking goals either side of half time initiated by teenager Alex Scott and created by bursting runs by Andi Weimann were finished clinically by Tommy Conway and Nahki Wells - among the many chances City created before Tyrhys Dolan and Wells exchanged goals and Brereton Diaz added a flattering late consolation.  

After Bradley Dack had drawn a first minute save from Daniel Bentley it was all City and on 7 a series of right wing corners saw Rob Atkinson stretching to loop a header wide of far post from a Kal Naismith flag kick. On 17 City's break saw Naismith release Atkinson to overlap on the left but his ball across the box missed everyone and Weimann raced in far post to finish - only to volley well over.

City were growing in confidence and on 26 Wells headed wide from a Naismith corner on the right after endless pressure from the away side via probing threaded passes into the box from Weimann amongst others. A minute later a Matty James corner from the other wing saw Naismith flash a header just past the post as Blackburn clung on grimly.

On 29 City again broke and put Weimann in down the right to get to the byline to square for Conway who as at Blackpool closed in near post to head home, his effort blocked for a corner. Within seconds Jay DaSilva's deep cross in from the left - recycling an attack after James was caught in possession - was headed goalwards by Zak Vyner, but held. 

Hosts Blackburn were second best all over the pitch and saw through balls easily tidied up, but Atkinson gave it away in his own half on 36 and quick fire exchanges from Rovers got them into the box to threaten, Naismith typical of City's commanding defence and among several players that flew in quickly with blocks to stop even a shot on target. 

Minutes later and another wide open break by Pearson's men, Conway playing in Mark Sykes on the right of the area, and his cross missing everyone - only for Scott to recover and execute a brilliant slide rule pass which put DaSilva clear to the byline inside the box to square for Wells who looked destined to score, only to fire straight at Rovers' keeper. 

Into the last 5 minutes and yet another fast release sent Conway away, who fed Wells in the box but his effort was beaten away. But an incredible counter next saw Scott collect outside his area and feed Weimann to spin away from multiple midfielders, race away down the right with space and time to lift to the far post where Conway buried a header.

City were deservedly in front at the break - and worth two or three more - though after the restart Blackburn won a succession of corners that the visitors dealt with easily. On 51 a misclearance fell straight to Wells who stung the keepers hand with a first time low shot that was parried and back to DaSilva, who crossed for Wells to steer a header wide.

On 54 James threaded DaSilva in on goal, who slipped a challenge to go clean through into the box, only to loop a rising cross over everyone and beyond the far post to where Sykes could not hook the ball in. This was a one sided spectacle and inside the hour and ironically from the opponents best chance - as on Wednesday - City roared two in front. 

Out of this world football as Bentley saved point blank from Dolan and from a scramble in the box Scott put his life on the line with a diving header in a crowded area to clear his lines, then found Weimann on the right who cut infield and saw an inch perfect diagonal put Wells clean through, the striker gave the keeper the eyes before drilling low to his left.

Pandemonium in front of the away stand as they deservedly roared into a two goal lead. The game settled as City dug in - although midway through the second half Weimann picked a path past defenders, only to lose his footing in the six yard box - and when his follow up was blocked from Scott's recycle, Brereton Diaz went clear only to blaze wide.

It was a rare warning that City didn't heed and when on 71 substitute Antoine Semenyo was bundled crudely off the ball on the right touchline, Blackburn had numbers forward to overload the City box, a quick exchange from Tayo Edun allowed Dolan to swivel and fire past Bentley at close range. The home fans rose having found an unlikely lifeline.

But in two minutes Scott drew a foul on the right and from his own set piece into the box Naismith steered a header onto the far post and in the chaotic scramble at close range, Wells was adjudged to have turned home - although Naismith had also followed up to slam into the top corner before the referee indicated the ball already crossed the line.

3-1 and this broke the spirit of the battered home side who miscued wildly in attempts to play upfield as City controlled the game wherever it mattered. And then on 84 it may have been 4 as Wells slipped away from the left back out wide and made for goal before lifting a ball inside to Weimann who saw his glanced header across goal clawed away. 

Before injury time a rare Blackburn effort saw John Buckley's low shot from the edge of the box tipped wide, but into time added on yet another chance for City to extend the lead as late sub Joe Williams strode forward from midfield and with the latest of a string of visitors threaded passes put Weimann in the clear, to laser just past the top corner. 

Deep in injury time Blackburn carved a way through the City backline with inside passes and finally found Brereton Diaz in the box to apply the finish, for a flattering second. This set up an unnecessarily nervous last couple of minutes, giving the scoreline a misleading look for a one sided battering that City had handed their Championship rivals at home.   

Pearson's men had been fitter, stronger, and faster throughout - and absolutely ruthless on the break, creating chance after chance. Recent form - and results - have been more and more encouraging but this was another level for this blossoming side. Traveling to a proven second tier rival, with only two days rest, and produce a footballing masterclass.   

Bentley 7

Vyner 7

Naismith 8

Atkinson 8

Sykes 7

DaSilva 8

James 8

Scott 10

Weimann 9

Wells 9

Conway 8

Semenyo 6

Williams 6

Massengo 5